Eyesore of the week

Over the years of publishing “Eye Sore of the Week,’’ we’ve received a few complaints from owners, usually in the category of sour grapes. Most just ignore us.

A handful fix up their places, which are reborn in “Eye Candy of the Week.”

The Eye Sore on June 18 was different: a burnedout house at 1508 E. Kalamazoo St. in Lansing. We, myself included since I proofread the page the story was on, should have handled it differently and will in the future.

The owner, Candice Sklapsky, was outraged. She told me that she was in the house when someone set it on fire about six months ago. Moreover, she was recovering from surgery. She said she and her dog were endangered. She is still dealing with the insurance company. She hasn’t received a check, so the house remains an eyesore. Totally understandable.

The Lansing Fire Department verified that the fire is the subject of an open investigation for arson.

When we could not reach the owner, I should have sent a reporter to the scene to try to find out more. I can promise you that in the future we will do so on all eyesores. We value the analysis that architect Dan Bollman offers on eyesores and eye candies, but sometimes more is needed, as was certainly the case here.

Moreover, we will send letters to the owners of potential Eye Sores requesting comment. I expect in most cases, we won’t hear back. And in this case, who knows if the letter would have caught up with the owner, who had to move out. But we will try harder.

“Eyesore of the Week” is our look at some of the seedier properties in Lansing. It rotates each week with Eye Candy of the Week. If you have a suggestion, please e-mail eye@lansingcitypulse.com or call Berl Schwartz at 999-5061.